Chapter 13 - The Prison Transport Ambush
Four months into my pregnancy, my bump was rounded and prominent. I felt the first flutter of movement on a Tuesday evening—a tiny, distinct kick that made me gasp in sheer joy.
Life was becoming beautiful again. Thorne Global Enterprises had reached record stock valuation, and construction on the Thorne Twin Angels Maternal Center was ahead of schedule.
Then, at 2:15 AM on a rainy Thursday, my phone burst into violent vibration.
I answered on the first ring. "Hello?"
"Mara, do not leave your house!" Detective Rowan Walsh’s voice barked through the speaker over the sound of screaming sirens. "Lock down your estate immediately! Activate your safe room!"
My heart plummeted into my stomach. I sat up, instinctively wrapping both arms around my stomach. "Rowan, what happened?"
"A prison transport van carrying Evelyn Whitmore to her state appeals hearing was ambushed on Highway 65 twenty minutes ago," Walsh said, her voice frantic. "Two heavily armed vehicles rammed the transport. Three guards are dead. Evelyn was broken out."
"What about Sloane?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Sloane was left in the van—Evelyn used her as a human shield during the shootout. Sloane is currently in critical care. Mara, Evelyn had help from an international mercenary group funded through an undisclosed offshore account we missed during the asset seizure. She is armed, she has millions in liquid cash, and she is loose in Nashville!"
Before I could reply, the emergency lights around my estate flashed bright red. The heavy steel blast shutters automatically slammed shut over every window in my home.
In the shadows outside the estate perimeter, a black armored SUV pulled to the curb. Inside sat Evelyn Whitmore, wearing black tactical gear, holding a high-powered satellite phone.
She dialed a private number.
Inside the Davidson County Detention Center, a corrupt prison guard walked up to Cell 104 and handed a burner phone through the food slot to Reid Whitmore.
Reid picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Reid," Evelyn’s voice echoed sharply through the line. "Mother is out."
Reid stumbled back against his concrete wall, his face turning pale. "Mom? Are you crazy?! The police are hunting you! Turn yourself in!"
"Shut up, you pathetic boy!" Evelyn hissed. "I am standing outside Mara's estate right now. I have six men with me. In thirty minutes, I am going to burn her house to the ground and finish what you failed to do two years ago."
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"No!" Reid screamed, slamming his fist against the steel door. "Mom, don't touch her! Don't touch those babies!"
"You have one choice, Reid," Evelyn said coldly. "Give me the override security codes to the estate’s master panic room—the ones you kept in your private safe—or watch your wife and children burn on live television."
